This chapter of Genesis has a theme.  The theme is everyone is acting on fleshly impulses.  No one bothered to pray or to seek the will of God in the matter of Isaac's blessing!  The major lesson of this chapter is found in Gal. 6:7-10: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."  Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and Jacob all sowed to the flesh in this chapter.  We will see what they reaped.

Gen. 27:1 "And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.  And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die."          Apparently it was believed that a man had a blessing for one of his children that he could bestow before the day of his death.  Isaac was intent on giving this blessing to Esau.  Isaac was aware of the things that God had told Rebekah concerning the affairs of their two sons: Gen. 25:22 "And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the LORD. 23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger."  Despite what God had said, Isaac loved Esau: Gen. 25:27 "And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. 28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob." 

 Isaac was determined to give his blessing upon Esau, his firstborn and favored child.  Isaac did not seek the LORD's guidance in the matter for his mind was already made up as to what he was going to do. 

We should understand that God will keep his promises regardless of the actions of men.  Even if Isaac had given the blessing to Esau, God would have still kept his promise.  Isaac's determination was not about to alter what God had promised.  Isaac's determination to bless Esau was contrary to the promise of God and Isaac acted on this fleshly desire by having Esau go and take some venison and bring him some savory meat. 

Esau also acted on his fleshly desires.  Of course, Esau could only act on his fleshly desires as he was not one of God's elect children.  Esau knew that he had sold his birthright to Jacob for a pot of beans.  Esau had little use for the birthright beforehand.  Now Esau wanted the blessing of his father.  Esau did not see himself being bound by his actions or by the agreements that he entered into.  Later he thought that he could still have it all by purposing to kill his brother Jacob.

Gen. 27:5-10 "Savoury meat for thy father..."

Gen. 27:5 "And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. 6 And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, 7 Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death. 8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee. 9 Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth: 10 And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death."

Rebekah had heard the conversation between Isaac and Esau.  She also knew what God had promised her concerning the twins in her womb.  She loved Jacob and was determined that Jacob would receive his father's blessing.  Again, we reiterate, the promise of God is sure and will not be altered by the actions of men.  However, Rebekah had tied the promise of God with the blessing of Isaac.  She was determined that she would have Isaac bless Jacob instead of Esau.  Rebekah believed that Isaac's determination to bless Esau was wrong.  She did not confer with Isaac about the matter, neither did she pray to the LORD for guidance.  She took matters into her own hand according to her fleshly desires.  She cooked up a scheme to deceive Isaac and brought Jacob into her scheme of deception.  She would make Jacob appear as though he were Esau and when Isaac pronounced the blessing he would think he was blessing Esau when in fact he would be blessing Jacob.  When we follow the direction of the Lord we do not have to deceive and lie.  Isaac and Rebekah had  been married for about ninety years at this time and we have Rebekah lying to and practicing deception on her husband. 

Gen. 27:11-16 Problems with the Scheme

Gen. 27:11 "And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: 12 My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. 13 And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them. 14 And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved. 15 And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son: 16 And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck:" 

Sometimes it is important to notice what is not said as well as what is said.  Notice that Jacob did not say to his mother that it would be wrong to deceive my father.  Rather he pointed out the perceived problems with deceiving his father.  He was all for deceiving his father.  He just did not want his father to know that he was deceiving him. 

The scheme included getting Jacob to look and feel like his brother Esau.  Both Jacob and Rebekah were taking advantage of the fact that Isaac was nearly blind.  Rebekah took care of the problem by clothing Jacob in Esau's clothing and in putting skins of the kids of the goats upon Jacob's hands and the smooth of his neck.